Dog Mast Cell Tumors

The bad thing about the mast cell tumor in a dog is that your vet must do a biopsy to identify the tumor and see if it is cancerous or not. Some other tumors can be identified by simply inserting a needle and taking a sample of the tumor. It takes longer to get results of biopsies, but most pet care insurance covers the cost of biopsies if they are necessary. Like cats, most dog mast cell tumors are skin tumors, and are fairly easily removed. In fact, the mast cell tumor is the most common type of skin cancer dogs get. The older your dogs get, the more susceptible they are to this type of skin cancer. Several breeds, mostly with red or golden coats, seem more susceptible to mast cell tumors, so it would be a good idea to invest in pet care insurance early in life for these types of breeds.